Amalgamator and separator.



J. T. HOGAN.

AMALGAMATOB AND SEPARATOB. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 10. 1909.

Patented Mar.21,1911.

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JOHN T. HOGAN, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

AMALGAMATOR AND SEPARATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 21, 1911.

Application filed November 10, 1909. Serial No. 527,344.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN T. HOGAN, a citizen of the United States, aresident of the city and county of Denver, State of Colorado, haveinvented a new-and useful amalgamator and separator by which valuablemetals, such as gold and silver, can be extracted from sands orpulverized ores or other materials by means of mercury and the resultingamalgam of mercury and valuable metals separated from the sands andmaterial from which the value has been so extracted.

The objects of the invention are to provide better means of amalgamatinggold, silver and other metals with mercury than are afi'orded by theplain barrel now in use and also to dispense with the machine known as asettler, which is used to separate the amalgam from the residue,generally called tailings. By this invention the amaL gamation and theseparation are performed in and by the same machine without making anyadditions, subtractions or changes in its parts, the barrel beingrevolved in the proper direction until the amalgamation is complete,when the direction of the motion is reversed and the machine then actsas a separator. I attain these results by the mechanism illustrated inthe accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a central longitudinalsection of the machine; Fig. 2, a cross section taken on the line av -50of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a side view of the machine; Fig. 4, a detailed viewof an internal shelf; Fig. 5, an exterior view of the basin in which theamalgam is collected; Fig. 6 is a detailed view of one of the internalvalves.

Similar letters and similar figures refer to similar parts throughoutthe several views.

Fig. 3 shows the barrel in the preferred form mounted on its bearingswhich are hollow trunnions. The letter a indicates the shell; thenumerals 1 and 1, hollow trunnions on which the barrel revolves; 2, theexterior of an internally concave basin which covers an opening in theshell of the barrel; 3, a central part of the basin which can be removedso that through the aperture the barrel can be charged and discharged;4, a removable plug in the center of the basin through which aperturethe amalgam can be drawn; 5, the exterior of an internal annular channelwhich intersects the basin and collects the amalgam in the basin.

In Fig. 5 the internally concave basin is indicated by 2; the partremovable for charging or discharging being indicated by 3; the plugwhich is removable for the purpose of withdrawing the amalgam beingindicated by 1; the intersection of the annular channel and the basin isdenoted by 5 and 5. The basin is in efiect an enlargement of the annular channel.

In Fig. 1 the shell is indicated by a, the hollow trunnions by 1 and l,the internally concave basin by 2, the removable part of the basinthrough which the barrel is dis-' charged when in the position hereshown is indicated by 3, the plug removable for drawing olf the amalgamwhen the barrel is in the position here shown being indicated by 4:. Theannular channel is indicated by 5, two tricl-inic shelves which areattached to the inside of the barrel in the direction of its length,being indicated by 6 and 6. An automatic valve, one of which is appliedto each shelf at its intersection with the annular channel, is indicatedby 7.

In Fig. 2, a. indicates the shell, 1 the relative position of a bearingand a hollow trunnion, 2 the internally concave basin, 3 the part of thebasin removable for charging and discharging, 4 the plug that is removable for the purpose of withdrawing the amalgam collected in the basin,5 indicates the annular channel; 6, 6, 6, and 6 triclinic shelvesattached to the inside of the barrel in the'direction of its length, 7,7, 7, and 7 automatic valves at the intersection of each shelf and theannular channel.

In Fig. 4, a indicates a part of the shell to which a shelf is attached,5 the annular channel, and 6 the triclinic shelf. The shelf is inclinedeach way from the middle of the barrel in the direction of its lengthand is also inclined in the direction of its width, so that when thebarrel is revolved in a certain direction it lifts and sends the pulp tothe ends of the barrel, the reverse motion bringing the pulp to themiddle of the barrel so that the amalgam can flow into the annularchannel.

In Fig. 6 the annular channel, indicated by 5, is shown closed by thevalve 7, which Closes automatically when the pulp is lifted and sent tothe ends of the barrel and opens automatically when the motion isreversed, and allows the amalgam to flow in the an nular channel untilthe separation is complete.

In the operation of the preferred form of the barrel the pulverized ore,mercury and water can be introduced through the large opening in thebasin, which is then closed and the barrel revolved in the directionthat will cause the shelves to lift the pulp and send it to the ends ofthe barrel, the motion also causing the valves to close and prevent aflow through the annular channel. The pulp thus sent to the ends of thebarrel rcturns by gravity to its level at the middle and the operationsrecur until amalgamation is complete, gases, liquids, solids, or anelectric current if desired, being introduced during the process throughthe hollow trunnions upon which the barrel revolves.

To separate the amalgam the charge is diluted if necessary, the motionof the barrel is reversed and the inclines of the shelves which duringamalgamation caused a complete mixing by circulating the pulp to theends of the barrel, now send everything to the middle of the barrelwhere the ingredients can separate from each other by gravity, theslight disturbance caused by the shelves while the barrel is beingrevolved in the reverse direction being beneficial in keeping the pulpfrom packing together during the process of separation. As aboutnine-tenths of the weight of a charge is usually water and silica with aspecific gravity of less than 3, none of the ingredients having morethan half the specific gravity of the amalgam, which is never less than13, the amalgam, which is a liquid, finds its way into the annularchannel, the valves being automatically open as a result of the reversemotion, and remains continually in the channel, at the lower part of thebarrel, until by the continued revolving of the barrel the separation ofthe amalgam is complete, when the barrel is stopped with the basinunderneath, the amalgam then flowing from the channel into the basin,whence it can be drawn into a bucket by removing the plug in the centerof the basin.

The tailings can be removed from the barrel through the charging hole inthe basin by revolving the barrel and at the same time introducing waterthrough the trunnions on which the barrel revolves.

With barrels of large capacity, on account of the great weight of themachine, pulverized ore, water, mercury and chemicals, it is desirableto have a pulley and driving belt at each end, reversible motive powerbeing employed. Cogs attached to the periphery of the barrel or anydesirable connection with reversible motive power can be used. .'Withsmall machines suitable for placer miners and prospectors when removinggold from black sand, a crank for manual power can be provided.

The opening covered by the basin can, when the basin is removed, be usedas a manhole for entrance in making repairs to the valves or theshelves.

The drawing shows the preferred form of the barrel and the componentparts claimed by these Letters Patent, but I do not limit myself to theform or shape of the barrel or its parts as shown therein.

I am aware that prior to my invention amalgamating barrels have beenmade with internal longitudinal shelves and hollow trunnions. I,therefore, do not claim such combinations broadly, but

I claim:

1. The combination, in an amalgamator and separator, of a rotary axiallyhorizontal barrel having means for reversible motion, provided with aninternal circumferential channel and valves to stop a flow through thechannel when the barrel is revolved in a certain direction and allow theflow to be continuous when the motion is reversed, with hollow trunnionsat the ends of the barrel, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, in an amalgamator and separator, of a rotary axiallyhorizontal barrel provided with an internal circumferential channel andhaving means for reversing the motion, with a valve or valves which stopthe flow through the channel when the barrel is revolved in a certaindirection and allow the flow to be continuous when the motion isreversed, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, in an amalgamator and separator, of a rotary axiallyhorizontal barrel provided with an internal circumferential channel,with one or more internal longitudinal shelves adjacent to the shell ofthe barrel, the shelves being shaped and.

disposed so as to remove material from the location of the channel whenthe barrel is revolved in a certain direction and to deliver suchmaterial to the channel when the motion is reversed, substantially asset forth.

4. The combination, in an amalgamator and separator, of a rotary axiallyhorizontal barrel having internally one or more longitudinal shelvesadjacent to the shell and a circumferential channel, with valves at theintersections of the shelves and channel, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, in an amalgamator and separator, of a rotary axiallyhorizon tal barrel having internally a circumferential channel, thechannel intersecting an internally concave basin covering an aperture inthe shell of the barrel, in the center of the basin a removable plug,with valves which prevent a flow through the channel when the barrel isrevolved in a certain direction and allow the flow to be continuous whenthe motion is reversed, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, in an amalgamator and separator, of a rotary axiallyhorizontal barrel, having internally a circumferential channel, thechannel intersecting an internally concave basin covering an aperture inthe shell of the barrel, in the center of the basin a removable plug,with one or more internal longitudinal shelves adjacent to the shell ofthe barrel, the shelves being shaped and disposed so as to removematerial from the location of the channel When the barrel is revolved ina certain direction and to deliver such material to the channel when themotion is reversed, substantially as set forth.

JOHN T. HOGAN.

In presence of- M. J. WEBB, L. H. NOLTE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G.

